Viewer for identification systems

ABSTRACT

An identification system according to which it becomes possible to render visible identifying indicia such as a signature which normally is invisible. This system includes a pair of light sources respectively providing two different types of light both of which are beyond the visible spectrum. A light-directing structure directs light from one of these sources to an area which receives light from the other of the sources. This lightdirecting structure reflects light of the first source from an article which has thereon identifying indicia which absorbs light from this one, first source, so that the area to which the light is directed will receive light from the one source except for the light which is absorbed by the identifying indicia. At the area which receives light from both of the sources there is located a fluorescent plate which is rendered fluorescent when receiving light from the second or other source and which is rendered nonfluorescent when receiving light from the one, first source. As a result the fluorescent plate fluoresces only at an area the configuration of which corresponds to the configuration of the identifying indicia, so that the latter becomes visible at that part of the fluorescent plate which fluoresces.

llnite [72] Inventor Tomichi Kikumoto Kashiwa-shi, Japan [21] Appl. No. 856,285

[22] Filed Sept. 9, 11969 [45] Patented Nov. 16, 1971 [73] Assignee Eizo Komiyama Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-ken, Japan [32] Priority Sept. 119, 1968 [54] VIEWER FOR IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS 6 Ciaiums, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. C11 250/711R [51] Int. CI ....G01n21/34 [50] Field 011 Search 250/71; 283/7, 8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,131,303 4/1964 Chitayat 250/71 3,487,210 12/1969 Hubert .1 250/71 X Primary Examiner--James W. Lawrence Assistant Examiner-Davis L Willis Attorney-Steinberg & Blake ABSTRACT: An identification system according to which it becomes possible to render visible identifying indicia such as a signature which normally is invisible. This system includes a pair of light sources respectively providing two different types of light both of which are beyond the visible spectrum. A lightdirecting structure directs light from one of these sources to an area which receives light from the other of the sources. This light-directing structure reflects light of the first source from an article which has thereon identifying indicia which absorbs light from this one, first source, so that the area to which the light is directed will receive light from the one source except for the light which is absorbed by the identifying indicia. At the area which receives light from both of the sources there is located a fluorescent plate which is rendered fluorescent when receiving light from the second or other source and which is rendered nonfluorescent when receiving light from the one, first source. As a result the fluorescent plate fluoresces only at an area the configuration of which corresponds to the configuration of the identifying indicia, so that the latter becomes visible at that part of the fluorescent plate which fluoresces.

PATENTEDunv 16 mm 3, 621 "249 sum 1 OF 2 INVENTOR YTOMICHI KIKUMOTO B wof PAIENTEBunv 1s IQTl sum 2 ur 2 Fg j INVENTOR TOM/CHI KIKUMOTO BY M M A ORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE lNVENTlON The present invention relates to identifications systems.

in particular, the present invention relates to identification systems such as used by banks or other organizations where identification indicia in the form of a signature, seal, or the like is to be rendered visible normally being invisible. For example, the identifying indicia may be located in a bankbook which is kept by the depositor of the bank with this signature normally being invisible. Thus, it is customary with a bankbook of this latter type to provide a signature with ink which can absorb infrared rays and to cover the signature with a film through which infrared rays can be transmitted but through which rays of the visible spectrum cannot be transmitted. As a result the signature or other identifying indicia is not normally visible. Only when infrared rays are transmitted through the film is it possible to render the infrared-absorbing indicia visible.

There are known identification systems where ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, and a fluorescent plate are used. With such a conventional arrangement the infrared rays are transmitted through a sheet on which the signature or other identification indicia is located and these infrared rays after passing through such a sheet reach the fluorescent plate. This latter plate is capable of being rendered fluorescent when it receives ultraviolet rays while the plate is rendered nonfluorescent when it simultaneously receives both ultraviolet and infrared rays. As a result, due to the absorption of infrared rays by the signature or other identifying indicia on the sheet through which the infrared rays pass, the fluorescent plate is rendered fluorescent only along an area the configuration of which corresponds to the signature or other identification.

Conventional devices of this latter type have proved in practice to be highly disadvantageous because the base sheet which carries the signature or other identifying indicia must be constructed in such a way that infrared rays can be transmitted through. Thus, not only are complications involved in the construction of the article which is provided with the identifying indicia but in addition a special supporting structure is required to support this article in such a way that the infrared light will pass therethrough.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION it is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide a construction which will avoid the above drawbacks.

in particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a construction where advantageous use may be made of a fluorescent plate with ultraviolet and infrared light as referred to above but where the article which carries the identifying indicia is adapted to reflect light rather than to have light transmitted therethrough, so that in this way the structure of the identification-bearing article can be considerably simplified. Also, the structure for supporting such an article can also be greatly simplified and can in fact be of a conventional construction capable of carrying an identification card or the like through which light does not pass.

ln particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a compact simple highly reliable structure capable of rendering normally invisible identifying indicia visible with reflected light while at the same time enabling a comparison of the identifying indicia to be made with additional identifying indicia on a separate document.

According to the invention there are two sources of two different types of light, respectively both of which are beyond the visible spectrum. A light-directing means directs light from one of the sources to an area which receives light from the other of the sources, and this light-directing means directs the light from the one source along a path where this light is reflected from an article which has identifying indicia thereon capable of absorbing the light of the one source. At the area which receives light from both of the sources there is a fluorescent means which is rendered fluorescent upon receiving light from the other source but which is rendered nonfluorescent when simultaneously receiving light from both sources. As a result the fluorescent means will be rendered fluorescent only at an area the configuration of which corresponds to that of the identifying indicia so that the latter becomes readily visible at the fluorescent means.

BRKEF DESCRlPTllON OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FiG. ii is a perspective illustration of one possible embodiment of a device according to the invention:

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. ll, showing how a support unit is movable to and from a location within the housing of the device of FIG. i; and

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the device of PEG. 1 showing details of the structure in the interior in the housing.

DESCRllPTiON OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the structure of the invention which is illustrated therein includes a hollow housing i provided with an upper wall 2 which slants downwardly toward the rear, which is to the right, as viewed in H68. 1 and 3. Beneath the rear end portion of the downwardly inclined upper wall 2 of the housing 11 where is a vent 4 through which air can pass to and from the interior of a housing compartment 7 which forms substantially the rear half of the housing i. Thus, the top wall 2 is provided at its rear end with a stepped portion 3 in which the vent d is accommodated.

The interior of the housing carries a partition wall 5 which separates the interior of the housing into front and rear compartments, so that in this way the rear compartment 7 referred to above is provided in the interior of the housing 11. This rear compartment 7 serves to enclose a light source b in the form of an infrared lamp capable of radiating not only infrared light but also some visible light as referred to below. The rear compartment 7 of the housing 1 also has in its interior a rotary fan 9 for cooling the lamp 8.

A light-directing means coacts with the light which radiates from the lamp 8 to direct this light in a manner referred to below. This light-directing means includes a condenser lens 10 carried directly by the partition wall 5 in an opening of the latter. This lens it is situated in such a way that light from the lamp 8 will pass through the lens 10 to be directed by the structure of the light-directing means onto a card or other article which carried identifying indicia capable of absorbing infrared light.

The partition 5 also provides in the interior of the housing 1 a from lower compartment 45 provided at the lower front portion of the housing 11 with an opening through which a support it may be introduced into the housing 1. As is apparent from FIG. 2, this support or stand ill has a recessed area 12 for receiving a card which has thereon identifying indicia in the form of a signature which can absorb light from the infrared source 8 with the signature covered by a film through which visible light cannot pass but through which the infrared light can pass to be absorbed by the signature or other indicia. Therefore the identifying indicia is not normally visible. A guide structure guides the support ii for sliding movement into and out of the housing so that with the loading stand ill in the position of FIG. 2 an article bearing identification can be placed in the recess 12 after which the stand i1 is shifted into the interior of the housing to assume the position shown in FIGS. l and 3. The stand also includes a springs wire holder 13 capable of holding a document such as an order for paying out money, which may be a refund, for example, with this document having thereon a signature or other identifying indicia to be compared with the invisible signature on the card in the recess 12. Thus such document will be hold by the holder 13 on the stand 11 in a position where the visible signature on the document is located adjacent the card with the invisible signature.

The above-mentioned light-directing means includes in addition to the condenser lens 10 a reflector l4 in the compartment 6 for reflecting the infrared light down to the recess 12 to be received by the article where the infrared will be absorbed by the identifying indicia. The remainder of the article will, however, reflect light to a second reflector 15 of the lightdirecting means, so that the light will be reflected back to the card or other article at the recess 12 from the reflector 15. These reflectors made in the form of simple mirrors supported in the manner shown in FIG. 3 so that the mirror 14 is supported directly at the partition 5 while the mirror 15 is supported at the front housing wall which defines the compartment 6.

The front compartment 6 is subdivided by a horizontal stepped partition-which carries at its front portion a magnifying lens assembly 16 which fonns part of the light-directing means directing the infrared light reflected from the card to the upper front interior portion of the housing 1 over the stepped horizontal partition which extends between the front wall of the housing 1 and the vertical partition 5.

At the stepped portion of the horizontal partition there is a second light source 20 in the form of a black lamp capable of radiating ultraviolet rays. The light which passes through the magnifying lens assembly 16 is reflected by an upper reflector 17 to an area which receives light directly from the light source 20. At this area, within the housing 1, there is a fluorescent means in the form of a fluorescent plate 18 which is rendered fluorescent upon receiving light only from the ultraviolet source 20. However, when the fluorescent means 18 receives light simultaneously from both of the sources 8 and 20, the fluorescent means is rendered nonfluorescent. At its upper front portion the housing 1 is provided with a viewing window 19 through which it is possible to view the fluorescent plate 18 in the manner indicated schematically in FIG. 3.

In order to turn the light source on and ofl they are located in circuits which can be closed and opened by operation of a switch 21. This switch 21 is located in the path of movement of the stand 18 so that when the latter is displaced into the housing the normally open switch 21 will become more closed to energize the lamps 8 and 20. However when the stand 11 is pulled out the normally opened switch 21 opens so as to automatically extinguish the lamps 8 and 20.

Initially the card-holding stand 11 is at a position such as that shown in FIG. 2 outside of the housing 1. In this position a card or other article having the invisible identifying indicia thereon is placed in the recess 12 of the stand 11. in addition a document such as a refund order is placed on the stand, releasably held thereon by the springy clip structure 13 with the signature on the refund order situated so as to be easily compared with the invisible signature on the card in the recess 12. The thus-loaded stand 11 is now introduced into the housing 1 in the manner described above so that it will reach the position indicated in FIG. 3. Of course, it is to be understood that instead of a card a bankbook with an invisible signature thereon may be situated at the recess 12.

When the stand 11 reaches the position shown in FIG. 3 the lamps 8 and 20 will be energized.

Thus, the invisible infrared light from the lamp 8 will be directed by the condenser lens and the reflector 14 of the light-directing means to the card or bankbook to be reflected by the latter to the reflector 15 which directs the light back to the card or bankbook. This infrared light is of course absorbed by the identifying indicia. A magnified image of the identifying indicia is provided by way of theassembly E6 of light-directing means. This magnified image of the identifying indicia is directed by the reflector 17 to the fluorescent plate 18. This plate 18 is rendered fluorescent by the invisible ultraviolet light from the source 20 and is rendered nonfluorescent when this plate 18 simultaneously receives infrared light from the lamp 8. Therefore, all parts of the plate 18 which simultaneously receives light from both sources are rendered nonfluorescent. However, the light from the lamp 8 cannot reach the plate 18 at an area thereof having a configuration corresponding to that of the identifying indicia because of the absorption of the infrared light by the identifying indicia. Therefore the plate 18 remains fluorescent only at an area the configuration of which corresponds to that of the identifying indicia.

At the same time, that part of the visible light which is radiated from the lamp 8 is reflected from the document which carries the visible signature to provide at the plate l8 a visible image of the identifying indicia on the document, so that both of the images are simultaneously viewed through the window 19. in this simple way a comparison can be made between the signature on the document and the signature on the bankbook or card.

It is thus apparent that with the structure of the invention it becomes unnecessary to resort to complications involved with structures through which light such as the infrared light must be transmitted. Instead it is possible to use far simpler structures capable of reflecting the infrared light, and of course the stand 11 is also rendered far simpler since it need not be constructed to hold the article in such a position that light will pass through the article. Thus even an identification article which is unable to have infrared light transmitted therethrough may be used with the resulting simplification of the identifying structure for supporting the latter.

What is claimed is:

l. in an identification system, a pair of light sources for respectively providing two different types of light both of which are beyond the visible spectrum, one of said sources being a source of infrared light and the other of said sources being a source of ultraviolet light, light-directing means for directing light from one of said sources to an area which receives light from the other of said sources, so that the two types of light both reach said area, said light-directing means reflecting light from an identification article having thereon identifying indicia which absorbs the light from said one source, and fluorescent means situated at said area for being rendered fluorescent upon receiving light from said other source and for being rendered nonfluorescent when light from both said sources reaches said fluorescent means, whereby the latter will be rendered fluorescent only at an area corresponding to the configuration of the identifying indicia because of the absorption of light from said one source by said indicia.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said one source also radiates visible light which is directed by said light-directing means to said fluorescent means, so that a document with visible identifying indicia thereon can have an image of the latter transmitted to said fluorescent means to be rendered visible at the latter for comparison with the fluorescent image of the identifying indicia.

3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a housing carries said fluorescent means in its interior, said housing having a window through which said fluorescent means may be viewed.

4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a housing has an interior where said fluorescent means is located, said housing having an interior compartment separated from the remainder of said housing and enclosing said one source of light, said light-directing means including lenses and reflectors for directing the light from said one source to said area with the light from said one source reflecting from an article having said indicia which absorbs the light from said one source, and said housing having a second compartment where said fluorescent means is located and enclosing said other source for directly impinging on said fluorescent means light from said other source.

5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said housing has between the enclosure for said one light source and the second enclosure for said other light source and said fluorescent means a third enclosure for removably receiving a support which carries an article having the identifying indicia thereon.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said one source is infrared light while said other source is a source of ultraviolet light, said fluorescent means being rendered fluorescent upon receiving ultraviolet light and being rendered nonfluorescent when simultaneously receiving ul- 5 traviolet and infrared light.

I111 '2 il i l 

1. In an identification system, a pair of light sources for respectively providing two different types of light both of which are beyond the visible spectrum, one of said sources being a source of infrared light and the other of said sources being a source of ultraviolet light, light-directIng means for directing light from one of said sources to an area which receives light from the other of said sources, so that the two types of light both reach said area, said light-directing means reflecting light from an identification article having thereon identifying indicia which absorbs the light from said one source, and fluorescent means situated at said area for being rendered fluorescent upon receiving light from said other source and for being rendered nonfluorescent when light from both said sources reaches said fluorescent means, whereby the latter will be rendered fluorescent only at an area corresponding to the configuration of the identifying indicia because of the absorption of light from said one source by said indicia.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said one source also radiates visible light which is directed by said light-directing means to said fluorescent means, so that a document with visible identifying indicia thereon can have an image of the latter transmitted to said fluorescent means to be rendered visible at the latter for comparison with the fluorescent image of the identifying indicia.
 3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a housing carries said fluorescent means in its interior, said housing having a window through which said fluorescent means may be viewed.
 4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a housing has an interior where said fluorescent means is located, said housing having an interior compartment separated from the remainder of said housing and enclosing said one source of light, said light-directing means including lenses and reflectors for directing the light from said one source to said area with the light from said one source reflecting from an article having said indicia which absorbs the light from said one source, and said housing having a second compartment where said fluorescent means is located and enclosing said other source for directly impinging on said fluorescent means light from said other source.
 5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said housing has between the enclosure for said one light source and the second enclosure for said other light source and said fluorescent means a third enclosure for removably receiving a support which carries an article having the identifying indicia thereon.
 6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said one source is infrared light while said other source is a source of ultraviolet light, said fluorescent means being rendered fluorescent upon receiving ultraviolet light and being rendered nonfluorescent when simultaneously receiving ultraviolet and infrared light. 